“When Luos are forced to choose between democratic courage and slavish opportunism, they do not admire the obedient – they rally to the brave” Prof Edward A. Oyugi.

In Luo folktales, the most celebrated legends such as Luanda Magere and Gor Mahia were revered for their supernatural strengths and military prowess. Pre-independence social anthropologists and colonial officials, such as E.E. Evans-Pritchard, Gordon Wilson, etc, often described the Luo of Kenya as a proud, fiercely independent and intellectual.

The Luo were “irresistible, awful and marvellous.” They were “notoriously resistant” to early colonial cash-cropping and taxation, they were also seen as highly adaptive, rapidly embracing formal Western education, Christianity and wage labour later in the colonial period.

They migrated from Nile Valley as brave warriors who moved into Nyanza through a combination of trade, conflict and assimilation. The Luo were frequently described as valuing eloquence, legal debate and education with a strong aptitude for political leadership, as observed by their prominence in the early nationalist movement and trade unionism.”

Unlike the Luhyia who had a structured political set up in the form of Luhyia Kingdom (some scholars have called in Wanga Kingdom) the Luo were a fractured community that did not have conceivable other than witchcraft as practised through Luanda Magere and Gor Mahia.

Consequently, throughout their history up to the present day, Luos have consistently held in high esteem leaders who possess at least some of the following characteristics: intellect, courage, bravery, composure, eloquence and principled behaviour.

Notably, even figures such as Dr Ouko (his late step-sister Dorothy acknowledged openly that Ouko was a Luhyia – not Luo – from the Maragoli sub-community), Oloo Aringo and Odongo Omamo were highly respected, despite their association with the Moi government, which was largely disliked by the Luos, due to their intellect, composure and eloquence. The most highly regarded Luo leaders possessed all if not most of these qualities, Raila being the most obvious.

Raila demonstrated to the entire Luo Nation for decades that whether you are in government or opposition, be in it standing up, not knelling down.

There is no single person who has these traits in Oburu Odinga’s Tutam (Two Term) brigade. They are a bunch of self-seeking cowards that do not meet historical standards set by our time in existence. They began to capitulate immediately after Baba departed, and the trend persists. From the outset.

Oburu, rather than informing Ruto that mutual support was the intention, he instead stated told Ruto that: “We will support you.”

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Suna East Junet Mohammed instead of expressing that Baba had left them in a broad-based government and that they would continue if their conditions were satisfied, echoed that they would remain where Baba left them unconditionally.

MP Sam Atandi, rather than posting on Facebook the day following Baba’s internment that he was now pledging his lifelong loyalty to President William Ruto, should have articulated that with his party leader’s departure, his loyalty must now be earned.

Jared Okello, instead of conveying to Ruto that they are now orphans and cannot stipulate conditions for their support, ought to have asserted that while they may be orphans, he must earn their backing.

The low IQ Opiyo Wandayi, instead of telling Ruto that: “’Development’ is not a birth-right but presidential favour,” should have said, “While development is a constitutional right, you are the president now…” etc.

The result of this worshipping is clear. Even before they start negotiating for the presidency, deputy presidency and zoning are off the table. And they are too weak to resist.

The resurgence of Governor James Orengo as a political force is driving these cowards to madness. How is this possible? Orengo was expected to be finished and irrelevant (I was among his most vocal critics regarding his performance in Siaya). These traitors have shown no interest in understanding the history of the people they purport to lead.

The abrupt departure of Baba generated uncertainty within the Luo Nation. However, as the situation stabilises, the Luo Nation will respond as they have always done: they will unite behind the brave, the courageous, principled, articulate and the composed. When they assess who fits this description, they recognize Governor Orengo, Babu Owino and Winnie Odinga. And because of Baba, it is no longer Luos that rally to brave but Kenyans in general.

First it was Gen Z. Now Luhyias have abandoned cowards like National Assembly Speaker Wetang’ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi for the brave Edwin Sifuna, Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Vihiga Senator Geoffrey Osotsi and Kwanza MP Caleb Amisi. The Kisii are coalescing around Dr Fred Matiang’i, Senator Senator Onyonka Richard Momoima, while the Kikuyu are investing in Ndindi Nyoro and Rigathi Gachagua in central Kenya.

Every discussion that I had the privilege undertake with Baba always boiled down to “How do we make lives of our people better?”

This man spent his entire life fighting for the downtrodden. Just 160 days since he died, the leadership of his party has never mentioned: high cost of living, corruption, abuse of human rights, police brutality, unemployment, Introducing Social Health Authority (SHA), education in any rally except in the fraudulent release of 10-agenda report.

Lit ndhi! They are busy worshipping a government whose State House has a budget of Ksh17 billion ($13.2 million) o squander and fights to grab The Nairobi Hospital, yet the cancer screening machine at Kenyatta National Hospital has not been operational for months.

In the fullness of time, the reigning dilemma on who deserves the Luo votes in 2027 will be simply be resolved by a logic derived from our collective and honourable experience through time.

• A Tell Media report / By Ranginya / Courtesy: Wafula Buke